Using draft for the majority of your printing needs can extend the life of your ink cartridge. All you need to do is change the print settings on your computer.

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Steps

1

Open the Control Panel on your computer and click on "Printers and Faxes."

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2

Right click on the default printer and left click on "Print Preferences."

Click on "Advanced" and select "Draft."

3

Click "OK." Use the draft option for the majority of your printing.

Only override this when you need to print a good quality copy of something for presentation or for sending out. You're done!

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Tips

Don't print test pages unless you have to. They are designed to use as much ink as possible. Try printing a few lines of simple text instead.

If you're not going to use your printer for an extended period of time, it would be best to remove the cartridges and place them in a zip lock bag to prevent them from drying out.

It would sometimes be cheaper to buy a new printer than it would be to buy a new ink cartridge.

Quite often you can extend the cartridges life by simply shaking the cartridge.

If your cartridges do not print after an extended period of non-use, yet the ink is still liquid inside the cartridge, the ink has dried out and clogged where the ink exits the cartridge. This can be easily fixed! Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and gently stroke the surface of the cartridge where the ink is clogged. Press gently as well. After a few minutes, the dried ink will be removed, and new ink will begin to flow through the thin lines where the ink exits.

Warnings

Don't forget to change your settings back when doing color printing. Otherwise your printer will print out in black.

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